12 Easy Side Dishes to Go with a Piece of Meat

So, you've got a few chicken breasts in the freezer or a steak ready to throw on the grill. That's the easy part. Deciding what to serve with it usually requires more time and hand-wringing. We've got a dozen side dishes that will round out a meal and take minimal effort.

For those of you who need a protein, starch and vegetable on your plate at every meal, not all of these will round out a meal. These are side dishes with presence, though; they are filling (potatoes, beans) or include ingredients that add complexity and flavor (cheese, herbs, multiple vegetables).

And all of them are easy quick to throw together, can be made ahead of time, or take very little prep and then hang out in the oven, so you have ample time to tend to the meat.